A US Jewish leader raised concern Monday at the suspension of US ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk for alleged security breaches, suggesting anti-Semitism may have been behind the move.
Indyk was temporarily relieved of his duties and his security clearance revoked on Thursday for suspected security violations following reports he was "lax" in handling classified material.
US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright had ordered a security review after a series of embarrassing lapses in recent months.
"If there are so many in similar positions, why is it that the only one that has been singled out on this issue is the ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, who happens to be Jewish?" Anti-Defamation League director Abraham Foxman said here.
"Why is it that all those in their zealousness found only one possible errant?" Foxman said at an Israeli government anti-Semitism monitoring forum.
"We the Jewish people have earned the right to be somewhat paranoid and to have the right to ask the question," he added, calling for the investigation to be wrapped up as quickly as possible.
"I am convinced that ambassador Indyk will be vindicated and will be brought back to the position in which the United States, Israel and the Middle East needs him, which is to be an effective member of the peace process team," he added.
The Haaretz newspaper said Monday the investigation centered on personal notes he made in his laptop computer over a long period about conversations with Middle East leaders.
Indyk, 49, who was brought up in Australia and became a US citizen in 1993, began a second term as ambassador in Israel this year after previously serving in the post from 1995 to 1997.
In between, he served as US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs.
He had returned to Washington earlier this month to help prepare for US President Bill Clinton's meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat -- JERUSALEM (AFP)
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